The type of Government we have in Oro Valley is based on the Town Council (elected officials) making the Town’s policies, and the Town staff (unelected officials led by the Town Manager), carrying out those policies.
However, in Oro Valley something is amiss.
Council sets policy. Staff implements.
Council sets policy. Staff implements.
The Council has study sessions and public meetings to ensure that the budget is fully vetted by both the policy makers and the public. The budget process is somewhat lengthy and detailed, and the vote to amend and approve is the most important vote the Council makes every year.
The Council should feel confident that their policies, as reflected in the annual budget, come to fruition
The Council should feel confident that their policies, as reflected in the annual budget, come to fruition
However, there is a real problem in Oro Valley in that the adopted spending policy has not been carried out.
We have heard how the Council allocated $750,000 to make the Community Center ADA compliant. What happened? Where did the allocated money go? The Council has enough on their plate without having to worry about their policies coming to fruition.
The State of Arizona requires that all budgets be balanced
If the Town Manager submits in the budget that an expenditure is $X, then there must be $X in revenues. For example, if there was $750,000 allocated for Community Center ADA compliance issues, then there has to be $750,000 in revenues.
Town Council’s adopted budgets are not being implemented
On page 244 of the adopted budget for FY 19/20, there is a Capital Improvement allocation for a $3,000,000 bond for golf course irrigation improvements. What happened? Was there a bond, and, if so, where are the improvements? On page 227 of the adopted budget for FY 20/21, there is a Capital Improvement allocation for $1,100,000 for golf course irrigation. What happened? Where are the improvements?
On page 230 on the adopted budget for FY 21/22, there is a Capital Improvement allocation for $90,000 for tennis court resurfacing. However, the Council just passed a bond where some of the money is going to resurface tennis courts. What happened to the allocated $90,000?
On page 110 of the adopted budget for FY 21/22, there is a breakdown of the personnel allocated to the Town Manager’s office. In this breakdown there is no allocation for the position of CIP Director. However, there was a recent Facebook posting advertising a position for a CIP Director. This is a position that is not budgeted.
Where did the Federal Cares Act money go?
During the Call to Audience at the March 16th Town Council meeting, Town Council Candidate Bill Rodman stated that the Town received $5.3 million in Federal Cares Act money. Who authorized the spending of this money and where did it go? Did the Town even consider spending this money on piping reclaimed water to Jim Kriegh Park or Riverfront Park or to the Pusch Ridge Golf Course?
Town Policies are being ignored
There are adopted Town Policies which have been ignored by this Council and Town Manager. Town Policy 6, adopted on 3/5/97, and reaffirmed on 4/20/05 is titled “Unbudgeted Expenses”. It directs the Town Manager to go to Council for approval for any unbudgeted expenses. Where was the Council approval for the above-mentioned unbudgeted position?
The Council needs to fix this problem
It is unfortunate that our underpaid part-time Council members cannot rely on the Town Manager, who makes over $184,000/year to carry out adopted policies and procedures. The Council must ensure that their policies are carried out.
The Council must ask: What happened to the $750,000 for ADA compliance? What happened to the previously approved expenditure totaling $4,100,000 for golf course irrigation? Where did the allocation for a position in the Town Manager’s office come from?
It is too bad that our Town Council cannot expect their decisions to be carried out. Unfortunately, this delinquency is costing Oro Valley a lot of money.
We have heard how the Council allocated $750,000 to make the Community Center ADA compliant. What happened? Where did the allocated money go? The Council has enough on their plate without having to worry about their policies coming to fruition.
The State of Arizona requires that all budgets be balanced
If the Town Manager submits in the budget that an expenditure is $X, then there must be $X in revenues. For example, if there was $750,000 allocated for Community Center ADA compliance issues, then there has to be $750,000 in revenues.
Town Council’s adopted budgets are not being implemented
On page 244 of the adopted budget for FY 19/20, there is a Capital Improvement allocation for a $3,000,000 bond for golf course irrigation improvements. What happened? Was there a bond, and, if so, where are the improvements? On page 227 of the adopted budget for FY 20/21, there is a Capital Improvement allocation for $1,100,000 for golf course irrigation. What happened? Where are the improvements?
On page 230 on the adopted budget for FY 21/22, there is a Capital Improvement allocation for $90,000 for tennis court resurfacing. However, the Council just passed a bond where some of the money is going to resurface tennis courts. What happened to the allocated $90,000?
On page 110 of the adopted budget for FY 21/22, there is a breakdown of the personnel allocated to the Town Manager’s office. In this breakdown there is no allocation for the position of CIP Director. However, there was a recent Facebook posting advertising a position for a CIP Director. This is a position that is not budgeted.
Where did the Federal Cares Act money go?
During the Call to Audience at the March 16th Town Council meeting, Town Council Candidate Bill Rodman stated that the Town received $5.3 million in Federal Cares Act money. Who authorized the spending of this money and where did it go? Did the Town even consider spending this money on piping reclaimed water to Jim Kriegh Park or Riverfront Park or to the Pusch Ridge Golf Course?
Town Policies are being ignored
There are adopted Town Policies which have been ignored by this Council and Town Manager. Town Policy 6, adopted on 3/5/97, and reaffirmed on 4/20/05 is titled “Unbudgeted Expenses”. It directs the Town Manager to go to Council for approval for any unbudgeted expenses. Where was the Council approval for the above-mentioned unbudgeted position?
The Council needs to fix this problem
It is unfortunate that our underpaid part-time Council members cannot rely on the Town Manager, who makes over $184,000/year to carry out adopted policies and procedures. The Council must ensure that their policies are carried out.
The Council must ask: What happened to the $750,000 for ADA compliance? What happened to the previously approved expenditure totaling $4,100,000 for golf course irrigation? Where did the allocation for a position in the Town Manager’s office come from?
It is too bad that our Town Council cannot expect their decisions to be carried out. Unfortunately, this delinquency is costing Oro Valley a lot of money.
- - -
You can watch Zinkin's remarks to council on this matter above.
- - -
Mike Zinkin and his wife have lived in Oro Valley since 1998. He served on the Oro Valley Development Review Board from 2005-2009, the Board of Adjustment from 2011-2012, and the Town Council from 2012-2016. He was named a Fellow for the National League of Cities. He was a member of the NLC Steering Committee for Community and Economic Development and a member of the Arizona League of Cities Budget and Economic Development Committee. He was an Air Traffic Controller for 30 years. Mike has a Bachelor’s degree in history and government from the University of Arizona and a Master’s degree in Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education from California State University, Northridge.
Mike Zinkin and his wife have lived in Oro Valley since 1998. He served on the Oro Valley Development Review Board from 2005-2009, the Board of Adjustment from 2011-2012, and the Town Council from 2012-2016. He was named a Fellow for the National League of Cities. He was a member of the NLC Steering Committee for Community and Economic Development and a member of the Arizona League of Cities Budget and Economic Development Committee. He was an Air Traffic Controller for 30 years. Mike has a Bachelor’s degree in history and government from the University of Arizona and a Master’s degree in Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education from California State University, Northridge.
